HOW WE CHOSE STONEGABLE

Talking about StoneGable is like talking about love! Our home seems to have a life of its own. Our big wrap porch is like someone wrapping their arms around you in a hug! So, today I’m sharing how StoneGable came to be and why I love it so much. Hope you will love it too!

Today I’m part of a very exciting blog tour. We are to answer two questions about our homes…

how did you choose your home and

why do you love your home

A big thanks to Jennifer at Town And Country Living for organizing our tour! And look for more homes and their stories all week!

Today’s post is very long with tons of never before seen part of StoneGable and lots of new images. Enjoy!

StoneGable started out as a dream. A dream I kept secretly in my desk drawer of our second home. It stayed secret and still for five years until one day Bobby said, “I think we have outgrown this home. We should move”.

Then the secret was a secret no more. I pulled out some rough plans I had hidden away for “someday” and we decided that the dream needed to become real.

That was 24 years ago.

Making a dream come true might seem like a hard thing to do! But this dream almost brought itself to life! There was something so earnest and true and beautiful about each step of StoneGable’s becoming.

The first time I stood on a plot of beautiful, bucolic Lancaster farmland on Fieldcrest Drive I knew it was home!

And then over the next eight months, we watched our dream take form!

The blog is full of images from the inside of StoneGable. So today I’m sharing the outside of our beloved home! I’ve tried to take panoramic pictures so you can get a real feel for what we see every day.

StoneGable has been the hub of our family and extended family for over two decades. It has seen twenty-three Christmases and Thanksgivings and Easter every other major holiday!

StoneGable is at its very best when it is busting at the seams with people! Our home loves to love people! And so do we!

You see a front door in the image above and I see it too but I also see all the memories loitering about calling out my name to be remembered. And what wonderful memories!

First day of school pictures were taken in front of this door every year! And my son walked out of this door, shoulder’s square and eyes forward to join so many other brave men and women serving our country. A very proud and teary moment for this mamma!

StoneGable has seen its share of birthday parties. We have celebrated first birthday’s here and ninetieth birthdays too!

We’ve celebrated graduations from high school and colleges and weddings and babies at StoneGable.

One of our most precious StoneGable memories was when our daughter, Jacqueline, got dressed in her wedding gown on her wedding day here with her 13 (yes, that’s right) bridesmaids! Beautiful girls dressed in clouds of pink with chatty, excited voices! And my sweet Jacqueline in white lace and satin covered buttons!

I’ll remember how we prayed together in my bedroom and how I held her and kissed the top of her head just like I did when she was little.

I’ll always remember the look on her Daddy’s face when she walked down the front stairs to greet him in her wedding dress!

The porch was the perfect place to take some of Jacqueline’s wedding picture. If this porch could talk! We had so much fun on that special day!

As the year passed StoneGable became more and more quiet. And eventually what used to be a bustling home became a calm and still place.

Life moved on but it did not move out of StoneGable. It has become a haven for grown children and a wonderland for grandbabies. Family still come and loves being here but Bobby and I have found a lovely sanctuary for the two of us! It is a more graceful place now. StoneGable has changed as we have!

Let’s take a look around StoneGable…

StoneGable is a magical place to live!

It sits in the middle of Lancaster Co. farmland. All by itself. And it pretends to be a farmhouse! And it is… sorta!

If you pull up to StoneGable this is what you will see. The first door you come to takes you to my office! And our front door opens to the living room.

StoneGable has gone through so many changes over the years. We try to tackle a home improvement project on the outside and something on the in every year or so to keep it updated. Every inch of our home has had a makeover except our master bath. It’s still original and desperately needs an overhaul! It’s next on our “list”!

Last year we replanted the small garden around the light post and had a new lantern installed. Most of the shrubs around the house have been replaced over the years.

Let’s head to the back porch and yard…

In years past I have decorated sitting areas around the porch with rugs and curtains and planter of flowers. But this year I just felt like StoneGable needed to breathe! So it’s very stripped down and natural. I think StoneGable is happiest this way!

The zelkova tree shades the patio from the afternoon sun. It was so small and frail when we first planted it! Now it is the queen of our backyard, offering shade to our family and homes to our resident bird friends (who often make a mess of our table)!

We originally had a much smaller patio so about 6 years ago we expanded it and added stairs and a lower patio with a firepit and a sitting wall.

The patio is the perfect “dance floor” for dancing with the fireflies on warm summer evenings!

This year corn is our next door neighbor. I love when the farmer plant corn!

It’s been a great year for corn, lots of sun and just the right amount of rain! In a month or so the corn with begin to take on a golden color and become dry.

One of my very favorite things to do in the fall, here at StoneGable, is to swing on the porch swing with a big cup of coffee and listen to the wind blow through the golden corn. It sounds just like the rustling of a taffeta ball gown! I could listen to that sound for hours!

Our big outdoor project last fall was painting the entire floor of the wrap porch. It is marine grade mahogany and originally looked like a polished hardwood floor but it showed every speck of dirt. So after years of sanding and restaining, we decided to paint it.

In the light of late afternoon, the floor looks blue but it is really a gray. Painting the porch was such a good decision! I think the color of the floor works so much better with the rest of the house.

And just recently all the outside doors got a fresh coat of paint too! Even the basement doors!

From the porch swing, I look out onto the raised bed garden and fruit trees. This is country living so we are not so concerned about pristine lawns as we are about places to play lawn games and making sure the grandbabies go for tractor rides!

This is the first time the raised bed garden is primarily a flower garden. I should have done this years ago! The butterflies and hummingbirds are so happy here! And so am I!

Now, let’s go inside and see StoneGable in ways you might not have seen before…

StoneGable is a laid out like a traditional farmhouse. Formal areas in the front of the house and informal in the back.

The front windows are arched and there are lots of architectural elements like wainscoting and fluted columns.

You will see transoms throughout our home. Above windows and doors alike!

StoneGable looks very different than it did when we first built it. Slowly we ripped up the carpeting and laid hardwood floors and painted the golden oak banister a classic black and white!

I sometimes joke that StoneGable is built like two bowling alleys laid side by side because our house is long!

I’m standing in the foyer taking this picture. Behind me is the living room.

Our kitchen has gone through one big makeover and a couple of smaller “freshen up’s”!

It is in the back of the house which is less formal, just like most true American farmhouses.

Our kitchen has its original cabinets. They have been repainted twice. This kitchen was built in our garage as the house was being built by the son of a cabinet maker. Everything was made out of boards right from our garage!

Our cabinets have magnets to close them and they go “click” when they close. Just like old farmhouse cabinets. So authentic! I love that!

We have tried to keep the integrity of the original kitchen while updating it to look fresh!

Over the years I’ve planted almost 20 hydrangeas! And right now I’m cutting Limelights and Pee Gee varieties to bring inside.

The farmhouse sink is a workhorse! And perfect for bathing babies and holding hydrangeas!

The kitchen is probably my favorite room at StoneGable! But don’t tell that to my dining room. I often tell the dining room I love it the best! Fickle me!

Looking through the kitchen to the family room.

I have more to show you upstairs but let’s save that for another day! I have a bathroom makeover to share too!

I was asked why I love StoneGable…

There are so many reasons I love StoneGable! How could I ever choose! StoneGable is not just a house but a way of life! Our life!

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Comments

I always love taking a peek into your beautiful home. Would it be possible for you to share your source for the stools at your kitchen island? I’ve tried replacing mine and have yet to find the “just right” pair. Thanks!

I missed this post somehow! What a lovely home and you have taken such good care of it. We’ve lived in our home for 38 years. We lived with my husbands parents when we first moved to town and were looking for a place to rent. When I would drive to work, I would drive by a house with big windows in the front and in the back. You could see all the way through the house into the back yard if the curtains were open. I just loved that. There was also a big ivy vine that wrapped all the way across the front porch. I thought it was so beautiful! One day, when we were looking for a house to rent that we had found in the newspaper. We got closer and closer to THAT house and I thought, “Oh, it can’t be THAT house.” But it WAS! We rented it from the owner’s son for two years. When she passed away, my Dad loaned us $10,000 so that we could afford to buy it. I’ve loved this house ever since. Sadly, the last time it was painted, they broke that vine and I don’t think we’ll live long enough to replace it. But I still love this home. Friends have said, “Your house is so homey and welcoming.” That’s the best compliment ever!

I think it is the most amazing thing when we find a home to love! It can be very humble or palatial, it really doesn’t matter! And when we take care of our homes that loves grows. The big thing is to take that love and extend it to others. I’m so happy you have found this kind of home!

Yvonne, thanks for sharing your story of Stone Gable with us! Your home is absolutely gorgeous — and so is the property surrounding it. You and Bobby have worked so hard and accomplished so much. Just love the way you decorate, Yvonne, and give us all the information needed to do things in our home. You make us feel like we can accomplish everything we set out to do! We thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us. You spend so much time on your posts and we sure do appreciate this.

May you and Bobby enjoy many more years in your lovely home! God Bless You Both!

Dear friend, thank you for sharing about your home and the precious memories that were and are being made there. It is a beautiful home and made even more beautiful to your readers with your shared memories.
Monica

What a beautiful home and even more beautiful memories! You’ve got one of the most inviting and cozy homes I can think of, Yvonne. Although we’ve only been in our home almost four years and our son is only 6, I just know I’ll feel the same way about my home in 20 years time as you do for yours. Home’s really become part of the family. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous home and heart!

Reading about all the wonderful memories and living that happened in your home is truly beautiful! And I absolutely adore how you describe your front porch as a hug. 🙂 It sounds like you have poured so much love and personality into your home. PS – Limelight hydrangeas are my favorite! Cheers-Kristy

Wow, what an amazing story about Stone Gable! I love your house now that I’ve read how much love you have for it – what a special thing to have a home that holds so much love and so many awesome memories. Truly the essence of home, Yvonne. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story!

Yvonne, StoneGable is beautiful and it reflects the generous nature of you and Bobby! God truly has given you gifts and I believe, following you for the last 5 – 6 years it is clear that the gift of hospitality is right at the top. Thank you for inviting us in for a tour, and sharing why it’s your special place.

I am curious about the hanging lanterns on the front porch. I’d like to try this but we get quite a bit of wind although our front door is somewhat protected by a deep porch. Do your lanterns ever ‘bang about’ or do the candles topple?

Once in a while, our lanterns bang because we get wind too! But we have never had a problem. And they look SOOOO pretty at night. I spray painted silver lanterns to get the look. I got the grand lanterns from Pottery Barn. They are on sale right now. See the lanterns I used here:https://rstyle.me/+XoonS8L4C06QfpaCu84e8Q

I am such a fan. Your home is graciously appointed. Not overdone, just perfect for family, formal events, and for a full photo shoot for a variety of home & decor magazines. Your home is one that is well cared for and appreciated. Such a blessing. Thank you for sharing…and I am looking forward to seeing what you will do for the fall/harvest season this year.

So much fun to see so many different (and extended) views of your home! I’ve become so familiar with your interiors but seeing how it all relates was so wonderful … as is the history and memories you’ve created in your beautiful home! 🙂

Yvonne, thank you for sharing your stunning home and a few of the life events it has witnessed. You and Bob are gracious hosts and deserve a beautiful life in this home that you share with your generous hearts.

Yvonne, your home is so beautiful! It is one that I never get tired of looking at. I love the corn fields and the country feel and would love to sit on the back porch and soak it all in! Thank you for sharing with us and giving us some of the history of this beautiful place. ❤️

Absolutely drop dead gorgeous! I love the flow, the neutral colors and the wonderful view you have outside. It is obvious that you love this home and have taken great care of it over the years. it is breathtaking and so livable. No wonder you have so many fond memories. Thanks for sharing.

What a beautiful story!!! I Love, love, love your story and your house. We used to grown corn on our farm and I too loved the sound of the breeze blowing through it. thank you so much for sharing this with us.

I enjoyed the tour of your beautiful home. I was glad to see your new frig! I still want to see your office! What room is behind the door next to your aprons hanging from your plate hooks? Thanks! Miss you on DTT!

Hi Yvonne,
What a beautiful description of all the love that goes into making Stone Gable the warm and welcoming home that it is. I could imagine all of the lovely, special and meaningful events that have occurred there through your descriptive writing. I even imagined myself sitting on your porch swing and listening to the rustling of the corn fields. Heaven !!

So glad you showed the outside of your house. The property is fabulous and your house looks like it should have always been there, the perfect spot! Your interior has always been a favorite and seeing the outside, well everything comes together.

I think my favorite part of your home is the outside area especially the porch swing that reminds me of the times I sat swinging with my baby doll on a rainy day on our front porch. It’s obvious your home is well loved. I’m sure it is a friendly place to visit and enjoy the surroundings.
Diane

Yvonne, as I’ve said on several occasions, I love your home and the property on which it sits. For anyone not familiar with Lancaster County, there is already a feeling of true “Americana” there; life still moves a little slower, and most folks hold tight to God and family values. Add to that 24 years of everyday living, and you have a life of sheer perfection. There truly is “no place like home”. Hugs!

Yvonne,I loved taking the tour of your home, it’s beautiful inside and out.I especially like how the cornfield creates such a fabulous backdrop for your property.The picture of your daughter is stunning.

I so enjoyed your story, Yvonne! Your daughter made a beautiful bride. I would love to sit in that porch swing and smell the corn fields. Your setting is so bucolic and peaceful, and what wonderful memories you’ve made. Today is the first time I noticed the StoneGable plaque on the front of your house. What a great idea that was!

Ho my! Yvonne, what a beautiful way you have of expressing yourself you truly have a wonderful gift…your blog read like a beautiful love story. .I could almost hear you speaking the words with such love, it bought tears to my eyes….thank you for sharing your wonderful memories and your beautiful home with me ..my heart is full…wish I could reach out and hug you and say thank you in person. ..
Love you with the love of the Lord
Daphne

Yvonne,
You and Bobby have done such a stunning job with your home. Gus and I know how much work goes into keeping just a small 1155 sq. foot home updated and decently clean. Doing the same to Stone Gable seems like it would be an insurmountable task. So sweet of you to share your beautiful love for your home. Thank you, Leslie.

Your home is truly lovely. I’ve love to have a home in that setting…..as I’m a country girl at heart. Well, at least I live in a development that has country all around it and horses just down the way!

I am definitely a country girl! One of my kids who is also a country boy lives in Washington DC (great work opportunity) and when he comes home he says, “I can finally breathe”. You can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl!

Everything about your home (inside and out) is so lovely. I miss my country farm home where I grew up so much! I know exactly want you mean about the sound of the dry corn rustling in the wind. I love that sound as well and even just listening to the wind and the sounds of the crickets and cicada’s. Country living is at its finest when you live in the midst of it all. Thanks for sharing and bringing back memories for me.

Thank you for sharing your home with us and how it came to be. I know exactly how you feel. My husband and I built our beautiful home (also in PA, the Poconos) in 2001. We put our heart and soul into our home, raised our daughter and hosted so many events (like you). Every year the Robins would make their nest for their babies in my front door wreath, the deer would visit and I’d watch as the fawns lost their spots. The quiet beauty of an early morning snow blanketing everything. The amazing colors of red, gold and brown as Fall takes center stage for a couple weeks. We relocated to another state a couple of months ago and it broke my heart to drive away from our home for the last time. It was our sanctuary, a place for teens and family, pool parties and bbq’s, etc. Thank you for sharing your home, decorating advice and story with us.

We built our country farmhouse on property that was my grandparents dairy farm 26 years ago. We have updated some rooms and we too still have the original master bathroom in need of an update. We did a mini update about 10 years ago but it needs an overhaul. I’d love to get rid of our big jetted tub, put in a soaker and enlarge the shower. My husband would like to move to a ranch. We’ll see who wins this one!?

I love your raised garden beds. I am planning on doing something similar and I like the idea of the pavers surrounding the raised beds. Can you share the details on how you laid them. Are they in sand, do they extend under the boxes,…etc
Thanks,
Kathy

Yvonne – I am so in love with Stone Gable and your lovely designs and décor. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful home with your followers. Can you share what paint you used on your railing. I love the blank and white and would like to do this to mine. Did you paint it yourself or have it professionally done by someone with an epoxy paint? Thank you again.

Yvonne, thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. You make me feel like part of the family. Your raised garden beds are so beautiful, it’s got me thinking of doing the same in our back yard. I can just imagine sitting on your porch on a summer evening, spending time with God thanking him for all the wonderful blessings he’s bestowed on us. We are all so truly blessed !!

Yvonne, StoneGable is breathtakingly beautiful but so welcoming. When we built our retirement home in 2015, there were many aspects of StoneGable that I used for inspiration…especially your kitchen. Thank you for sharing the history and beauty of your home! Blessings!

Yvonne…as one who has had the pleasure of visiting your beautiful home..I must say that it is set in the most bucolic of settings. I can just imagine you sitting out on either porches looking out to beautiful fields of corn. Your home is beautiful inside and out and reflects the person that you are loving every aspect of beauty of home and garden. Have a fabulous week Yvonne!!!

Welcome to my blog and my life!

I’m an empty nester living with my wonderful husband Bobby at StoneGable. Our home often feels like a hotel, filled with family and friends. I love all things HOME AND GARDEN! Living by grace, I strive to live large and love all those who cross my path.